Basic Vacation - Basic Vacation EP

Let's get this out in the open right now: If Basic Vacation fails to make it big, there is something fundamentally wrong with the way America consumes music. On their five-song debut EP the band soars from the very first note. Opener "I Believe" features soaring vocals, a sun-drenched and effervescent chorus, armfuls of radio appeal and enough charisma and swagger to make their contemporaries blush.

The synth-driven "Jamie" is straightforward, Brit-inspired and undeniably buoyant. Though it hits on a rather dark and bleak subject matter, there's a brightness about it that masks the stark nature of its central character. On the contrary, the uplifting and inspiring "It's Happening Now" has a cheeriness and hopefulness that is as much life-affirming as it is innately melodic. Guitars enter the forefront on the surging and sturdy "You're In My Head," a giant tidal wave of infectiousness that has an array of crossover appeal and will more than likely saturate TV markets in the very near future. The laconic EP closes with "Worlds Collide" a shimmering splash of radio-ready pop gold that is equal parts buzzy, vibrant and kaleidoscopic.

Hook-driven indie-pop is a veritable goldmine when it's done well and the splashy, summery appeal of Basic Vacation is veritable proof of that. Having already shared the stages with the likes of Third Eye Blind, Owl City and Alpine, they're off to a roaring start. This gnomic five-song EP is just the starting point, but a Billboard-laden career does not seem out of the question. One listen to "I Believe" and "Worlds Collide" reveals exactly that.